Portrait

by Justin Roberti
(State College, PA)

She grins like a shy girl, the ogee of her lips playing of their own accord with the rounds of her teeth. A smirk. A scarlet woman or a tree climbing tomboy. Skinned knees and blonde pigtails. White skin and eyes like the ocean, her head rocks, her eyes side to side, and I am adrift before I can right my ballast.